• What is GemFair?keyboard_arrow_down

  GemFair is a pilot project that aims to create a secure and transparent route to market for ethically-sourced artisanal and small-scale mined (ASM) diamonds. By providing artisanal and small-scale miners with access to the global market and offering fair prices, GemFair hopes to improve miners’ livelihoods and foster the sector’s development as a credible and trusted source of diamond supply.

  For the pilot, GemFair is partnering with the NGO Diamond Development Initiative (DDI) to ensure that participating mine sites abide by a set of audited ethical standards known as the Maendeleo Diamond Standards (MDS)™, as well as additional standards specific to the GemFair business model.

  GemFair’s proposed solution combines dedicated software (an app) and hardware (diamond toolkit) that seeks to enable the digital tracking of ASM diamonds throughout the supply chain and addresses key challenges and risks relating to artisanal mining activity. The pilot will initially run in Sierra Leone, where the Government has already made significant progress in formalising the artisanal mining sector and where a number of artisanal mine sites are already participating in DDI’s Maendeleo Diamond Standards™ programme.

• Why is GemFair engaging with artisanal diamond mining?keyboard_arrow_down

  The artisanal diamond mining sector employs an estimated 1.5 million people in developing countries. Although the task is challenging, GemFair believes that the artisanal mining sector should be recognised and included into the international trade. The aim of this project is to support the sector’s drive for formalisation and contribute to its development.

• Why are you starting in Sierra Leone and not elsewhere?keyboard_arrow_down

  The Government of Sierra Leone has made great strides in formalising the ASM sector, and we believe that GemFair can offer an unprecedented opportunity to take this process to the next level. Our decision to pilot the project in Sierra Leone was also driven by the fact that our partner DDI has already made a significant progress in improving standards with their cooperating mine sites there.

• I would like GemFair to come to my country. What can I do?keyboard_arrow_down

  If the pilot is successful in Sierra Leone, GemFair will be looking to expand to other African countries. If you are a government official, a donor or an NGO and would like to speak to the GemFair team, please get in touch.

• How will GemFair have a positive impact on development?keyboard_arrow_down

  GemFair aims to empower miners by teaching them about diamond valuation and improving their livelihoods by offering them a consistently better deal. GemFair will focus on supporting the Government and other development stakeholders in bringing traceability to the supply chain and formalising the ASM-sector using an innovative digital solution. We will be measuring our impact rigorously through qualitative and quantitative surveys as well as various monitoring and evaluation activities.

• What standards are you using to ensure that mine sites are indeed ethical, and which NGO partners do you work with?keyboard_arrow_down

  For the pilot, we will be working with DDI applying its Maendeleo Diamond Standards™ as well as additional standards specific to the GemFair business model, to certify ethical mine sites that can participate in the GemFair programme.

• What technology are we using?keyboard_arrow_down

  We are developing a tailored technology solution to meet the needs of those in the ASM sector, with dedicated hardware and software. These have been designed to meet the ASM sector’s particular requirements, both in terms of being practical (weatherproof, hard-wearing, functioning in different light conditions) and risk-mitigating (featuring digitally supported bag-and-tag equipment and GPS location of diamonds). If proven successful, the technology used in GemFair will be integrated into the industry blockchain platform De Beers is currently developing, providing an added layer of assurance for ASM production.

• Does GemFair also trace other minerals, such as gemstones and gold?keyboard_arrow_down

  The pilot will focus exclusively on diamonds. However, with minor tweaks to the software, the solution could potentially be used for other minerals in the future.

• Will GemFair allow artisanal miners to participate in the blockchain De Beers is developing?keyboard_arrow_down

  We are developing a tailored technology solution to meet the needs of those in the ASM sector, with dedicated hardware and software. These have been designed to meet the ASM sector’s particular requirements, both in terms of being practical (weatherproof, hard-wearing, functioning in different light conditions) and risk-mitigating (featuring digitally supported bag-and-tag equipment and GPS location of diamonds). Over time, we intend to integrate this solution with the diamond industry blockchain De Beers Group is working on, adding an extra layer of security.

Opportunities

GemFair is a digital solution that connects artisanal miners to global markets. Financially backed by the De Beers Group, GemFair is a dynamic and fast-growing startup that is well positioned to become a game changer in a market primed for innovation and to integrate with the De Beers Group's industry leading blockchain technology.

Join us on our mission to create equal opportunities for all by supporting artisanal mining and unlocking global markets.

We are always looking for talented and passionate people to join our team. If you don't see an open position for the role that you are interested in, please do not hesitate to reach out directly to jobs@gemfair.com.